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Reflection written by Nick Wight
Indigenous led ministries and churches in Australia follow in the footsteps of incredible campaigners for God’s Kingdom and human rights who have worked tirelessly before them. Amongst those who were fired in their convictions by their faith in God were names like William Barak, Eddy Atkinson, William Cooper, William Ferguson, Cecil Grant, David Kirk and many, many more. All of the Indigenous voices at SURRENDER look to these hero’s of the faith as their inspiration but none more so than the incredible Pastor Sir Doug Nicholls.
These words accompany the statue of Doug and Lady Gladys in Melbourne’s Parliament Gardens:
Church of Christ Pastor, Husband, Father, Grandfather, Knight, Governor of South Australia, Justice of the Peace, Footballer, Sprinter, Boxer, Soldier, Statesman, Freemason. A man of the people from Cummeroogunja Mission in Yorta Yorta country, a devout spiritual leader and man of God, Aboriginal community leader, brilliant sportsman and fighter for equality and human rights.
You could make a case for Sir Doug Nicholls being Australia’s equivalent to Martin Luther King. A pastor and key leader in our ‘civil’ rights movement. If any performers, activists, politicians or anyone who supported or fought for civil rights and equality were visiting from overseas or interstate, Doug would make sure they were welcomed at the Gore St Church of Christ in Fitzroy. Harry Belafonte and Albert Namatjira where just two of such visitors.
Make sure you ask any of the Indigenous Christians at SURRENDER:12 who inspires them in their ministry, who has gone before in seeking the healing of this land and who continues to give them hope in their work to bring true Kingdom reconciliation.
